Police hunt forecourt killer

Police are hunting for a man who shot dead a couple at the isolated petrol station they ran near a popular seaside resort.

Graham and Carol Fisher were shot at close range near Wadebridge, north Cornwall.

A school bus driver found the body of 58-year-old Mrs Fisher lying in the forecourt of Perch Garage on the A39 yesterday morning.

Armed police strung a half-mile cordon around the area and evacuated residents amid fears that the gunman may have been still on the scene.

They found the body of Mr Fisher, 60, four hours later at the couple's bungalow next to the station. He had also been shot.

Inspector Mark Taylor said that the killings had sent shock waves through the rural community which teems with tourists during the summer. Former Wham! star Andrew Ridgeley lives in a farmhouse a mile from the scene of the shootings.

Mr Taylor said: "In 23 years of service I cannot think of a similar crime involving a firearm. We are doing everything we can to support the community."

He was unable to say what type of weapon had been used.

Detective Superintendent Stuart Newberry, who is leading the investigation, said: "It is a horrific murder of two local business people trying to get on with their daily lives. At the moment there is no apparent motive."

Mr Newberry said it was too early to say if there had been a break-in prior to the killings.

He said officers were not treating the incident as a murder followed by suicide.

"Our initial inquiries suggest Mrs Fisher may have been killed first and her husband was shot later." He added: "This is a very unusual crime for this part of the world."

People were today urged to be "alert and on their guard" as police searched for the gunman.